Engine starting mechanism



Dec.17, 1935. R. M. NARDCNE 2,024,659

ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Original Filed Feb. 19. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l wzbaz. P

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rz Gttorn cgs Patented Dec. l7, 1935 UNITED STATES ENGINE STARTING MEQHANHSM Romeo M. Nardone, Newark, N. 3., assignor to Eclipse Machine Company, Elmira. Heights, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 19,

1929, Serial No. 341,16

Renewed May 9, 1935 13 Claims.

This invention relates to engine starting apparatus, and more particularly to starters of the type adapted for transmission of cranking effort directly to the rotatable part of the engine.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide novel starting mechanism. including a manually operable cranking instrumentality.

Another object is to provide novel cranking mechanism for internal combustion engines embodying means for automatically connecting the starter mechanism in driving relation with the engine to be cranked.

A further object is to provide novel engine cranking means of the manually operable type embodying means for portecting the operator against injury from a backfire of the engine. The above and other objects will appear more fully hereafter in the detail description.

One embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views. It is to be expressly understood however that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not designed as a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had for this purpose to the appended claims.

In the drawings- Fig. 1 is an end view partially in section illustrating a hand starter constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 22 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a drawn-out perspective view of one form of meshing mechanism which may be employed;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the,

' line 44 of Fig. 2;

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the starter mechanism therein shown comprises a housing 7 having, on theinner end thereof, a circular flange 8 provided with a plurality of equi-spaced openings 9 to receive bolts H] for attaching the starter to the crankcase of an engine, a portion of the latter being shown at H.

A barrel I2 is rotatably mounted in the outer end of housing 1 by means of suitable bearings I3, and within said barrel is positioned an engine-engaging member which, in the form shown, is constituted by a three-tooth jaw clutch member l4 having a laterally extending hollow cylindrical portion which is interiorly splined and has driving engagement with a shaft i6 portion E5. The inner portion of shaft it is screw-threaded into a nut H which is provided interiorly with a shoulder I8 adapted to be engaged by a stop nut l9 threaded onto the outer end of shaft i6. 5

at all times and for adjusting the pressure with which said disks are engaged. To this end, there are positioned within the barrel 2 a plurality of longitudinally disposed coil springs M which have operative engagement at their inner ends with a flange 22 provided on nut if and at their outer ends with an adjusting member 23 which is threaded into the outer closed end of barrel 02. By this arrangement disks 28 are yieldingly maintained in engagement intermedi- 25 ate the end portion l2a of the barrel and the flange 22 of nut ii. If desired, barrel 92 may be provided in its inner end with longitudinal slots to receive a locking member 24 which is attached to the adjusting member 23 by means of a screw 25, said locking member being adapted to retain member 23 in adjusted position. Drivably connected to the inner end of barrel i2 is a worm gear 26 which meshes with a worm 21 carried by a shaft 28 that is rotatably mounted in housing fl and that extends substantially at right angles to the axis of rotation of barrel B2. In the form shown, the end portion l2a of the barrel is provided with an outwardly projecting, hollow cylindrical portion 29 of reduced diameter to constitute a hub for worm gear 26. A plurality of sleeves, one of which is shown in section at 3!), extends through suitable openings in the hub portion of gear 25 and are countersunk at their inner ends in the barrel end i211, said sleeves constituting a driving connection between the barrel and the gear. Preferably a nut 35 is threaded onto the end of cylindrical portion 29 and abuts against gear 26 and sleeves 30 to hold the latter in operative position. One end of the worm shaft 28 is rotatably mounted in housing 1 as by means of a bearing member 32, the .opposite end of the shaft being centered in a hollow gear member 33 to be more lll y described hereafter. In abutting engagement with one end of the bearing member 32 is a thrust bearing 34 which is retained in position by means of a collar 35 threaded onto a reduced portion of the shaft 28. The outer end of the latter is provided with a transverse pin 36 to receive a hand crank, not shown.

Means are preferably provided for positively locking shaft 28 against rotation in one direction whereby a backfire of the engine during the cranking operation is ineffective to cause reverse rotation of the cranking shaft 28. For this purpose there is rigidly connected to the housing, as by means of cap screws 31, a disk 38 provided with an annular series of inclined teeth which mesh as at 39 with corresponding teeth formed on a sleeve 40 which but adapted to rotate in unison with, worm shaft 28. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention sleeve 40 is splined to the outer surface of a sleeve H which is keyed to the reduced portion 28a of the worm shaft. Sleeve 4I carries a light metal cap or washer 42 against which bears a coil spring 43, the opposite end of said spring having-engagement with the head of sleeve 48 whereby the latter is yieldingly held in engagement with the teeth of the stationary member 38. If desired a light metal thimble 38a, secured to housing 1 by screws 31, may be provided to house spring 43 and the elements directly associated therewith.

When shaft 28 is rotated in the normal direction, the teeth of sleeve 40 ride over the teeth on member 38, said sleeve being forced to the right, as viewed in Fig. 1, against the tension of the light coil spring 43. If the engine backflres. during the cranking operation, the same tends to rotate shaft 28 in the reverse direction, and the teeth of sleeve 40 and member 38 now engage and positively hold the worm shaft against such rotation. The multiple disk clutch positioned in barrel I2 provides for the resulting relative movement between the parts.

The starting mechanism of the present invention .preferably includes, in combination, a booster magneto 44 that is removably secured to housing 1 and is drivably connected to cranking shaft 28. Means are interposed between the cranking shaft and the armature shaft 45 of the magneto whereby said armature shaft is rotated at high speed relative to the cranking shaft. To this end housing 1 has secured thereto a gear case 46 within which is mounted a step-up gear train of any suitable type, the high speed end I46 of said gear train being connected to armature shaft 45 and the low speed end I41 of the gear train being connected to gear member 33 and also connected to pinion I46 through the intermediate gear I48, the parts I41 and I48 being mounted on the intermediate shaft I49. The gear member 33 is provided with a tubular portion 33a having longitudinal slots to receive a pin 41 that extends transversely of and through the worm shaft 28, whereby a driving connection is provided between these members. Preferably gear member 33 is also provided with a lateral cylindrical extension 48 through which extends a pin 49 adapted to receive a hand crank (nptshown), whereby worm shaft 28 may be rotated from either side of the starting mechanism.

A single rotation of shaft 28 is effective, through the gear train within case 46; to rotate the .armature'shaft of the magneto 44 a large 'number of times, thereby insuring that the latter will supply sufficient ignition current for starting purposes. I

is movable longitudinally of,-

-ment with a similar clutch to the inner end of said rod.

Means are provided for preventing seepage of oil from the engine crankcase II into the starter housing. For this purpose thereis fitted over the inner end of the starter a metal cup-shaped member 56 provided with a flange 5I adapted to be clamped between the engine crankcase and flange 8 of the housing by means of bolts I0. Member 50 is bent inwardly at 52 to provide a shoulder to which is attached in any suitable manner a flexible washer 53 that engages, at its inner periphery, the outer surface of the cylindrical portion I5 of jaw clutch member I4. Member 50 is also provided with a central opening slightly larger in diameter than the head of jaw member I4, and themetal surrounding said opening is preferably bent to provide a. curved lip 54 to strengthen the oil seal member at this point.

In order to insure engagement between flexible washer 53 and. the head of clutch member I 4, there is provided a sleeve 55 which surrounds cylindrical portion I5 and a portion of nut I1, the inner end-of said sleeve having engagement with flange 22 of said nut and the outerend of the sleeve being flanged and having engagement with washer 53 whereby the latter is held closely in engagement with the jaw'clutch member and seepage of oil into the starter is prevented.

'Means are provided for automatically moving the jaw clutch member I4 into driving engagemember (not shown) mounted on a rotatable part of the engine to be cranked, such as the crankshaft, or an extension thereof. For this purpose the inner end of threaded shaft I6 extends outwardly into the'cylindrical portion 29 of barrel I2 and is provided on the end thereof with a pair of teeth orjaws 56 (Fig. 4)v which extend inwardly a short distance from the periphery of said stantially diametrically disposed. Jaws 56 normally have engagement on the sides thereof with shaft and are suba pair of jaws 51 (Fig. 3) provided on a disk 58- mounted in a thimble 59 which is secured to a removable cover plate 60 attached in any suitable manner to housing 1. The thimble 59 is provided with an elongated opening 6I through which jaws 51 extend and have sliding movement but are held against rotation due to the engageopening 6|.

Slidably extending through the threaded shaft .ment of. the same with the walls of said normally abuts against the inner endof shaft I 6. The large end of rod 62 through the opening in thimble 59, and a central opening in disk 58 and terminates at a point closely adjacent cover plate 60. Disk 58 is normally maintained in engagement with thimble 59 by means of a coil spring 64 surrounding rod 62 and having the inner end thereof in engagement with a collar 65 that is The outer, reduced end .of rod 62. passes through a central opening in jaw clutch-member I4- and is screw-threaded to receive a nut 66, the shoulder 63 and nut 66 cooperating to maintainshaft I6 and jaw clutch member I4 in operative relation. A'coil spring '61 is carried by rod 62 intermediate shaft I6 and clutch member I4, one end of .the spring bottoming in a recess in the shaft and the opposite end engaging a pair of washers, 68 that are carried by the rod and engage the central portion .of. the clutch member. One of passes freely suitably attachedthe washers 68 is formed I of flexible material, such as leather, and is adapted to prevent oil from seeping from the crankcase through the central opening in clutch member I4. The spring 61 resists movement of clutch member I4 toward shaft l6.

Actuation of the cranking shaft 28, either by means of a hand crank applied to the shaft at 48 or the opposite end thereof, is effective through worm 21 and worm gear to rotate barrel 12. The latter drives nut l'l through the multiple disk clutch 20 and tends to rotate threaded shaft I6 and jaw clutch member l4. Rotation of the shaft I6 is prevented however by the engagement of jaws 56 with the non-rotatable jaws 51 and due to the screw threaded engagement between the nut I6 and said shaft the latter moves to the left as viewed in Fig. 2 and through spring 6'! moves the jaw clutch member [4 to meshing or driving position.

As soon as shaft l6 has moved longitudinally a distance such that jaws 56 are disengaged from the jaws 51, the shaft and clutch member l4 are rotated by nut H, the parts being locked in driving relation by means of the engagement of stop nut l9 w'th the internal shoulder l8.

The rotation of the cranking shaft is now transmitted to the crankshaft of the engine, and when the latter starts under its own power, the crankshaft is rotated at a speed greater than the speed of rotation of jaw clutch member l4.

The inclination of the teeth of the jaw clutch members is now effective to move clutch member [4 to the right to non-driving position and spring 54 returns rod 62 and said clutch member to normal position. Screw shaft 5 is returned to normal position by spring 61. In the event that jaws 56 abut against the ends of jaws 51 the latter are forced to the right against the tension of spring 64, permitting further rotation of the screw shaft until the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 4. At this time spring 6 3 is effective to return disk 58 and the jaws 51 to the normal position shown in Fig. 2.

In the event that a backfire should occur during the cranking operation the positive clutch means constituted by sleeve 40 and stationary member 38 are effective to prevent counter rotation of cranking shaft 28, relative motion between barrel l2 and nut I! being permitted by the multiple disk clutch 2b.

During the cranking operation, the rotation of shaft 28 is transmitted through the step-up gear train carried in the g@ case 46 to the arma-= ture shaft 45 of the magn to whereby said shaft is rotated at high speed and the magneto is rendered effective to suppl ignition current for starting the engine.

The starter ofthe prese't invention is particularly adapt for gigs e4 1 aeroplane engines, but as will begn cfist by those skilled in the art, its use i not restricted thereto. Various changes may be made in the details of construction and'arrangement and certain parts may be used without other parts. Reference will therefore be had to the appended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In starting apparatus, for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted to ried by said rod for preventing rotation of the shaft in either direction, said shaft being adapted for movement out of engagement with the last named means.

2. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted for movement into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for rotating the rotatable member, a rod operatively connected to said rotatable member, and means carried by said rod for preventing rotation of the rotatable member in either direction, said rotatable member being movable longitudinally out of operative engagement with said last named means.

3. In apparatus of the class described, an engine engaging member, a threaded shaft drivably connected thereto, a sleeve carried by said shaft, means for rotating said sleeve, means for moving said engine engaging member longitudinally, said last named means including a rod extending through the shaft and rotatable member and means carried by the rod and having operative engagement with the shaft for preventing rotation of the latter in either direction, said shaft being movable out of operative engagement with said last named means.

4. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted for longitudinal movement into driving engagement with a member of said engine, means for rotating the rotatable member, means for moving the rotatable member longitudinally into driving position, said last named means including a rod operatively connected to the rotatable member, a toothed member slidably mounted on the rod and normally preventing rotation of the rotatable member in either direction, means for holding the toothed member against rotation, and yielding means for resisting sliding movement of the toothed member relative to the rod.

5. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted for longitudinal movement into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for rotating said rotatable member, and means for moving said rotatable member longitudinally to driving position, said last named means including a toothed member for normally preventing rotation of the rotatable member in either direction, means for slidably mounting said toothed member, and yielding means for resisting sliding movement of .the toothed mem-' ber, said rotatable member being adapted for movement out of operative engagement with the toothed member. 5

6. In. starting apparatus for an internal com-. bustion engine, a rotatable member'adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft drivably connected to said rotatable member, means for rotating said shaft and means for locking said shaft against rotation. in either direction until movement of said. rotatable member into driving engagement with the engine member.

Z. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft drivably connected to said rotatable member to cause rotation of said last named member in unison therewith while permitting limited relative axial movement therebetween, means for moving both said shaft and rotatable member into engine cranking position, and means for moving said shaft and rotatable member away from cranking position, said last named means including a device for locking said shaft against rotation in either direction during the initial longitudinal movement of said shaft toward said engine member.

8. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, arotatable member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a rotatable and longitudinally movable shaft drivably connected 'to said rotatable member to cause rotation of said last named member in unison therewith while permitting limited relative axial movement 'therebetween, means for moving both said shaft and rotatable member into-engine cranking positions, and means for locking said shaft" against rotation in either direction during movement into engine cranking position.

9, In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a rotatable member of said engine, means for rotating said first named member including an axially movable shaft having means at one end for engagement with said first named member and having a tooth at the opposite end, and means normally engaging said tooth for preventing rotation of said shaft in either direction during initial axial ment of said engine engaging member, and yielding means for. returning said e ine en-' gaging member to its normal position when the engine starts, said yielding means including a spring engageable with said locking member and 5 subject to deflection in response to axial movement 'of said engine engaging member.

11. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means forv actuating said member including an axially movable shaft separate from said,engine engaging member but drivably connected thereto, means operatively connected to said shaft for opposing rotation thereof in either direction during initial axial movement of said shaft, and means for producing, first, an axial movement and then a rotary movement of said shaft. a

12. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, a shaft drivably connected to said rotatable member, but adapted for limited axial movement independently'thereof, means for rotating said shaft' and means for opposing rotation of said shaft in either direction until movement of said rotatable member into driving engagement with the engine member.

13. In starting apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a rotatable member adapted to be moved into driving engagement with a member of the engine to be started, means for actuating said member including an axially movmember but drivably connected'thereto, means operatively connected to said shaft for opposing rotation thereof in either direction during initial able shaft separate from said'engine engaging axial movement of said shaft. 40

ROLIEO M. NARDONE. 

